A HEREFORDSHIRE-based business has been hit with a million-pound fine after a person was injured at one of its adventure holiday sites.

PGL Travel Limited, which describes itself as "the UK’s leading outdoor education provider", entered guilty pleas to one count of failing to discharge a general health or safety duty to a person other than an employee and two counts of contravening a health and safety regulation to magistrates in Staines in June.

A further charge of failing to discharge a general health or safety duty to a person other than an employee was dismissed at the June hearing as no evidence was offered.

The company again appeared before magistrates in Staines for sentencing in October.

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The court heard from the prosecutor that the company, based in Penyard Lane, Ross-on-Wye, had failed to ensure that persons not in its employment were not exposed to risks to their health and safety, namely that it had failed to install devices to prevent finger entrapment to doors at its Marchants Hill Centre in Hindhead, Surrey, on May 26, 2021.

The company had failed to notify the relevant enforcing authority, namely Waverley Borough Council, of a reportable incident after a non-worker suffered an injury and was taken to hospital for treatment at the Marchants Hill Centre on May 26, 2021, the court heard.

It had also failed to install devices to prevent finger entrapment at the Marchants Hill Centre between May 26 and October 21, 2021, the court heard.

PGL Travel Ltd was fined £1,000,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £18,006.86 and a £181 victim surcharge.